Controlling device



E. E. TEACH ETAL 2,293,574

CONTROLLING DEV I CE Aug. 18, 1942.

Filed Oct. 23, 1940 9 85 Y f y l THEN? ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 CON TROLLIN G DEVICE Edwin E. Teach,

Painted Post, and Freeman Fy Stanton, Corning, N. Y., assignors to Ingersoll- Rand Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 23, 1940, Serial No. 362,384

(Cl. 20G-81) 12 Claims.

The'present invention relates to a controlling device and, more particularly, it relates to a device which controls the operation of an apparatus or machine in accordance with variations in the flow of fluid.

Although the device of the present invention is capable of a variety of applications, it is especially adapted for the regulation of a iiuid compressor. In such an apparatus it may be employed to maintain operation of the compressor as long as there is a predetermined ow of iiuid under pressure from the compressor to the load. For such an arrangement, it is desirable to provide a device which will operate at any selected *iiow and when the pressure of the iiuid actuating the device may be comparatively high.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device actuated by the ow of a iiuid.

Another object is to provide a device wherein the amount of fluid iiow actuating the device may be varied.

Still another object is to provide a device actuated by the flow of fluid under high pressure wherein the amount of flow necessary to actuate the device may be predetermined.

A further object is to provide a device of novel and simple construction which is highly eiiicient in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of which the drawing is a part, and wherein,

Figure 1 is a view in section of the device of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view in section taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a View in section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Figure 4 is a view in section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the flapper.

As shown in the Figure 1 of the device, the

present invention consists of a body I having an inlet bore 3 and outlet bore 5. The flanges I and 9 on the body are adapted to be secured to a conduit (not shown) conveying fluid. The flange is secured to the portion of the conduit nearest the source of supply. Both bores 3 and 5 communicate with a central chamber I I and the end of bore 3 terminates in the chamber at seat I3.

Surmounting the body and secured thereto by bolts I5 is a cap I. The cap has a chamber I9 which opens through aperture 2| in the body I into the control chamber In this aperture is a plate 23 secured on the cap I'I by bolts 25.

Two arms 2T extend from this plate and journal a pin 30 on which is mounted an oscillatable member, or flapper, 29. When there is no ow of fluid through the body I, the iiapper rests on seat I3, but if any iiow occurs, the fluid will move the flapper away from its seat in order that the ow may not be impeded in its passage through the central chamber II to the discharge bore 5 and the amount of movement of the flapper will depend on the amount of fluid iiowing.

Within the cap I is a switch 3| of the Micro- Switch type. The casing 33 of the switch is of insulating material and is secured against a shoulder 35 in the cap I1 by the screws 31. The shims 39 surrounding the screws and lying between the casing and the shoulder serve to adjust the position of the switch 3| in relation to the cap Extending through the upper wall of cap I7, above the switch 3 I, are two electric terminals 4I and 43 arranged for connection to the switch and an external electric circuit (not shown). Each of the terminals 4I and 43 are insulated from the cap I1 by a washer 45 and a bushing 4l. The terminals themselves consist of a bolt 49 having a head 5I, which rests on a washer 53 of conducting material, and is threadedly engaged at the outer end by a nut 55. The wires 5l of an external circuit may be secured to the terminals by the screws 59, which engage the bolts 49. A wire 6I connects terminal 4I to a terminal 63 in the switch 3| and the wire 85 connects terminal 43 to another terminal S'I in the switch. Connected to terminal 63 is a spring leaf 69 which is arranged to contact terminal 61 to close the circuit through the switch, but which is normally held open by the plunger 7l extending through the switch casing 33.

The plunger '|I is movable and is held in engagement with an arm 'I3 in chamber 'I5 formed in cap I'|. The arm is supported on the rock shaft which extends into the bores 'I9 and 8| in the cap I`| and is fastened to the rock shaft by means of a set screw 83. An adjusting screw threadedly engages an enlarged portion 8l of each bore I9 and 8| and bears against each end of the rock shaft. Each screw 85 is locked in position by a bushing 89 engaging the cap Il.

With this arrangement the rock shaft can be moved laterally to the right or left and, as a result, the position of the arm 13 may be changed with respect to the :dapper 29 without disassembly of the device, it merely being necessary to loosen the locking bushings 89 and turn adjusting screws 85 to move the rock shaft to the position desired.

This construction is important in that the flapper 29 has a cam surface 9| against which a cam follower 93, formed on arm 13, is pressed by the interaction of the spring leaf |59, the plunger 1| and the arm proper 13.

This cam is so designed that when the ilapper 29 has been moved to a predetermined distance the arm 13 is lowered, permitting the spring leaf 69 to contact terminal 61. Furthermore, the cam is so constructed that the arm may be lowered at any predetermined movement of the flapper 29, y

depending on the position of the cam follower 93 with respect to the cam surface.

Thus, movement of the follower toward one end of the cam will increase the distance that the flapper 29 must be moved by the fluid to close the switch 3|, whereas moving the follower to a position near the other end of the cam will decrease the distance. As a result, the fluid flow necessary to close the circuit through the switch 3| may be predetermined and may be varied to meet different conditions,

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive to variations in fluid flow, an electric switch for controlling a circuit, actuating means for the electric switch, means on the oscillatable means to releasably hold the actuating means, and means to shift the actuating means with respect to the last means to vary the yangular relationship of the actuating means with respect to the oscillatable means and thereby predetermine the fluid flow for releasing the actuating means.

2. In a device of the character described having a body provided with a fluid passage, a member in the passage responsive to variations of the fluid flow therethrough, a cam on the member, a pivotally movable member releasably held by the cam, an electric switch releasably held by the pivotally movable member, and means to change the position of the pivotally movable member with Vrespect to the cam to predetermine the fluid flow actuating the switch.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of an oscillatable member responsive to the variations in a fluid flow, a cam on the oscillatable member, a rock shaft, an arm on the shaft resting on the cam, a movable plunger resisting on the arm, an electric terminal, a coacting electric spring terminal normally held away from the electric terminal by the plunger adapted to engage the electric terminal upon predetermined movement of the oscillatable member, and adjusting screws to move the rock shaft longitudinally to predetermine the position of the arm with respect to the cam and predetermine the fluid flow for bringing electric terminals into contact.

4. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means movable in response to variations in fluid flow, separate pivotal means associated with the oscillatable means, a surface on the oscillatable means arranged to normally hold the pivotal means and to release the pivotal means upon any predetermined movement of the oscillatable means, and means to selectively vary the position of the pivotal means with respect to said surface to predetermine the portion of said surface releasing the pivotal means and thereby predetermine the movement of the oscillatable means for releasing the pivotal means.

5. In a device of the character described, an

oscillatable member movable in response to variations in fluid flow, separate pivotal means associated with the oscillatable member, a surface on the oscillatable member arranged to release the pivotal means upon any predetermined movement of the oscillatable member, and means to selectively vary the position of the pivotal means with respect to said surface to predetermine the position of the pivotal means with respect to said surface and thereby predetermine the movement of the oscillatable member for releasing the pivotal means.

6. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive t0 fluid flow, movable means normally maintaining an electric circuit open, a pivotal arm for holding the movable means against movement, a cam on the oscillatable means to normally hold the pivotal arm and adapted to release the pivotal arm at any predetermined fluid flow, and means to vary the position of the arm with respect to the cam and predetermine the fluid flow for releasing ,the pivotal arm and movable means.

'7. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive to variations in fluid flow, a cam on the oscillatable mea-ns, and an arm normally held against movement by the cam and laterally movable along the cam surface to predetermine the position of the arm with respect to the cam surface.

8. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive to variations in fluid flow, separate pivotal means associated with the oscillatable means, means on the oscillatable means to normally hold the pivotal means and adapted to release the pivotal means at any predetermined flui'd flow, and means to predetermine the position of the pivotal means with respect to the last said means and thereby predetermine the fluid flow for pivoting the pivotal means.

9. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive to variations in fluid flow, movable means for controlling an electric circuit, a rock shaft, an arm on the rock shaft to normally hold the movable means against movement, a cam on the oscillatable means to hold the arm adapted to release the arm upon a predetermined fluid flow, and means to predetermine the position of the arm with respect to the cam to predetermine the fluid flow for releasing the arm and the movable means.

10. In a device of the character described, oscillatable means responsive to variations in fluid flow, pivotal means associated with the oscillatable means, means on the oscillatable means having a surface to normally hold the pivotal means against movement and release the pivotal means upon a predetermined movement of the oscillatable means, and means to vary the position of the pivotal means with respect to said surface to predetermine the movement of the oscillatable means for releasing the pivotal means.

11. In a device of the character described, an oscillatable member responsive to variations in fluid flow, a shaft, a pivotal arm on the shaft, a cam on the oscillatable member having an arm holding surface adapted to release the arm upon a predetermined movement of said member, and positioning members for the shaft to predetermine the position of the arm with respect to the arm holding surface and thereby predetermine the fluid flow for releasing the arm.

12. In a device of the character described, a

and movable members for positioning the rock shaft to predetermine the portion of the arm with respect to the arm holding surface and thereby predetermine the flow of iluid for releasing the 5 arm.

EDWIN E. TEACH. FREEMAN F. STANTON. 

